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Crafty in the Med

I'm here to enjoy meeting other crafters and to share my ideas and projects. I love to crochet,cross stitch and embroidery but I'm keen to try new crafts too. I love music and I love to sing! Singing makes me happy. I collect jugs....its their shape I think! I am addicted to yarn and buttons. I get lost in book shops and can spend all morning there and I absolutely adore rummaging in flea markets. I love to read sci´fi/fantasy,buried treasure, and off world adventures. I have a passion for history! I would be the first passenger on the first time machine ! I BELIEVE IN MAGIC!

Sunday, 18 January 2015

Do you know what it is like to have a strange empty feeling coursing through your body? A feeling of a void in time...hands twitching to grab my crochet hook !!!
When I finished this little bonnet for my great niece it dawned on me I had absolutely no other "make" to complete or project in mind!!!!

After 12 hours of flittering through Pinterest, Raverly,Google and feeling totally woebegone (just love that word...I wonder if we have Will Shakespeare to thank for it), my sanity was saved by Facebook and a message that came through from my niece with the wonderful news that she is expecting her second child and her babe is another girl!!!!
I so feel "me" again and have another crochet project on the go!!!! Life is good!!!! :-)

A definite stash buster!!! This little bonnet for a 1 year old is based on the pattern from Susan at petitepurls but as we crocheters do it has been tweaked generously by yours truly to adapt it to what I had in mind. As I said it is a stash buster so it is made up of bits of worsted yarn and I used a 4.00 hook

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I have been lagging behind as usual and I had plans to post these photos last Sunday after our walk. It wasn't to be so I am including them now.
Such a beautiful morning!

This is the oldest park in Alicante.

It was built to commemorate a 19th century local politician, Jose Canalejas who was known as the Protector of Alicante. Thanks to him the port is as you can see it in these photographs,it was just a measly harbour before. However what really draws me to Canalejas park are the gigantic centenary ficus trees . They are magnificent!!!

Saturday, 3 January 2015

Here's wishing you ALL a bright New Year filled with peace,joy,health and happiness!

The jacket throw is finally finished...completed...finito!!!Phew!!! I think it cheers the room up a great deal! However a certain person in this household could have kept his opinion to himself ....grannyfied indeed!!!! Much more suitable for a country cottage indeed!!!! grr!!!!!!

I expect a lot of you have now put your Christmas decorations away but I can't do that yet. We still have the Kings night to celebrate on 5th January and the Kings day on 6th January (Epiphany). Another bundle of gifts are given out, that or coal if people have been naughty.Personally I can think of quite a few people in high places here in Spain who should receive coal from the three Kings and not gifts!!!!

El dia de los Reyes (The three Kings Day) is virtually as important as Christmas itself in Spain, especially for kiddies, as this is the day when they traditionally get their presents. Nowadays though more and more young parents celebrate 24th December and Father Christmas who brings the majority of the presents and a little something is left for the Kings night! However the Kings parade on the night of 5th is quite something to see, when the three kings arrive by camel and lead their procession through the streets, throwing sweets to the children.

The King's arriving in Muchamiel Alicante 2014

The King's parade Alicante 2014

When the children return to their homes they leave their shoes out or the Kings to fill, not stockings ....mind you more than one clever tot leaves out Daddy's boots. The next morning, the children wake up to find their presents have been left overnight !
I remember when I first came to Spain in the 70s my husband's family kept to the old tradition. Christmas Day was a day spent with the family but no visit from Father Christmas or presents under the tree. The presents were all delivered by the Kings on the 6th January. This was very strange to me and it took me awhile to adjust. Once we had our own house we decided we would respect and enjoy both of our Christmas traditions,so I got my typical Christmas Day and Sr P continued to have his Kings Day. We have continued to do this and my daughter does the same. There has been some general talk of eliminating the King's Day but that has been met with a lot of opposition,I am pleased to say. The King's Day is an important part of this culture and I don't think it should be wiped out.

As I said another round of gifts and this neck warmer is what I have made for my daughter to add to the gifts from the Kings.

The weather in Alicante is deceiving !
During the day it can be really nice but the temperature drops drastically when the sun goes down. My daughter finishes work at 8 or 9:00pm so she will appreciate the warmth of this neck warmer at night.
I used Katia Inca super chunky yarn 53 % wool and 47% acrylic and a 8.00 hook. It was a delight to use and I made this in a jiffy. Those lovely big crimson buttons from my button hoard.

It is cold this evening and a sea mist has swept inland so it is quite damp and foggy out there. I think a nice hot cuppa tea and some dunking biscuits will just do me right for supper!